Loveland, Ohio – This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is of the Loveland Schools State Budget Town Hall that was held at the media center of the Loveland Middle School on Wednesday evening. The state budget that will determine spending for the next two years in Ohio is making its way through the Ohio General Assembly. Governor Mike DeWine’s budget proposal could cut funding for the Loveland City School District and many other public schools. The District says that their five-year forecast is that the district could receive $2.5 million less in state funding.
Since the Ohio House has already passed their proposed spending bill, attention is now focused on what the Senate will propose, and thus the District has now amended their lobbying priorities and what they are asking the public to do that might influence the State House decisions. You can read their amended lobbying priorities HERE.
The District is asking the Loveland community to continue reaching out to state lawmakers. They say, “It’s important lawmakers and Governor DeWine receive messages from as many people in our community as possible, and that they receive repeated messages throughout the budget process from now until the budget bill is signed at the end of June.”
Loveland’s Lobbying Priorities:
- Protect the “Guarantee” – if the guarantee were to be eliminated, Loveland would suffer a catastrophic loss of $25 million in state funding over the next four years. The governor’s suggested reductions in the guarantee will mean a loss of about $2.5 million.
- Ensure state funding keeps pace with inflation – Inflation is projected at 2.3% and we are requesting that state funding increase at or near the same rate during the two-year budget. Failure to increase state funding in line with inflation shifts more of the burden for public education to local taxpayers.
- Remove the cash balance provision – Limits on carry-over balances will have unintended consequences for school districts and create more confusion for local taxpayers. We request that the state study the issue and consider separate legislation regarding cash balances.
